Life experiences for Tamanu Beach’s general manager

CoOK ISLANDS SuN Voyager, sail forth, Voyager, sail forth, to seek and find to seek and find

GENERAL MANAGER OF TAMANU BEACH IN AITUTAKI, NICK HENRY, HAS ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING MOST OF US ONLY DREAM ABOUT, AND THAT IS CAPTAINING A POLYNESIAN VAKA FOR TWO YEARS AROUND THE PACIFIC OCEAN ON A MISSION TO SAVE THE OCEANS, AND GETTING PAID FOR IT!

sunset side of Aitutaki. With 23 bungalows and all the amenities anyone needs for a tropical holiday, including a spa and massage, a beachfront restaurant and bar, and two fresh water pools, Nick describes the resort as ‘Casual Luxury.’ documentary during their After five years Nick believes forthcoming trip to American in ‘Aitutaki for Aitutaki’, Samoa. meaning that when Aitutaki “He told me they had no room for a cameraman on the vaka, but had room for a crew! people are ready to develop more tourism, then that’s when it should happen. Not before! Grandson of the Cook Islands’ first premier, Albert Royle Henry, Nick could not be more proud of his family and his family’s history. Built on family land, Tamanu Beach has been in existence for eighteen years. Nick said the resort was his father Hugh’s vision: “Dad always wanted a beachfront resort. He made a sketch of it years ago, which we returning to the Cook Islands in the mid 1960s. “He wanted to help change the way the Cook Islanders were living. As independence was in the air, he got into politics,” said Nick. Albert son, and Nick’s father, Hugh was brought up in New Zealand, as was Nick’s mother Helen. Nick said that Albert Henry had told Hugh in the late 1960s: “It's time to come home”. “This was a voyage to the South Pacific Festival of Arts in American Samoa. There were sixteen crewmembers, and after lots of preparation we sailed off encountering some massive storms, which damaged our sails, so we limped into Pago Pago seven days later. We were the heroes of the South Pacific Festival of Arts - these unshaven warriors, the only Pacific Islanders to come by sea. Everybody had flown in!” Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti and Cook Islands. The voyage demonstrated the genius of Pacific vaka design and the power of the almost lost culture of celestial navigation. Nick then headed off to Tahiti for a couple of years. On his return, he was asked by the Prime Minister, Henry Puna to chair the 50th Anniversary of Independence Committee, which took place in July and August 2014. In 2015, Nick headed off to Aitutaki to take over the family business as general manager of Tamanu Beach. Tamanu Beach is a friendly, adults-only (12+), airconditioned, roomy bungalowstyle resort overlooking the beach, lagoon, ocean, or tropical gardens on the “My sentiment is I want Cook Islanders to own Cook Island tourism. I think that Aitutakians should decide what they want. Right now, there is not enough Aitutakians on this island to grow the industry. So until they come home, or until the Aitutakians here are equipped and ready to take tourism to another level, only then am I happy for us to go to that next level”. still have,” said Nick. “It was an unforgettable Nick’s father sadly arrival with a big crowd died a few years before at the harbor, and the the definitive Tamanu Governor there to greet Beach opened in 2006, us. I remember hearing but two of Nick’s older the Cook Islands drums; brothers Michael just an incredible feeling!” (from the original Are Tamanu 2000) and Stuart (who developed the neighbouring Manea Resort 2004) partnered up choosing to name the amalgamated property Tamanu Beach in honour of their father. Even though Nick wasn’t supposed to shoot video: “I became a crew with a camera. I made a documentary called ‘Seven Days to Pago Pago,’ which aired on Cook Islands Television, and we showed it at the “As the youngest Festival of Arts. I edited brother, it’s now my it there on my laptop!” turn to contribute to the operation and development of our family resort,” said Nick, who arrived at the Aitutaki resort in 2015 with wife Diane and newly born son Harry. “This year we have had another son Arapati, named Hugh returned in 1969 with his wife and boys: Michael, Paul, Stuart, and Nick. Sister Katherine was born in 1972: “Dad became Secretary of Public Works working in the Government.” Nick became an active member of the Cook Islands Voyaging Society, ultimately as a captain: “I went to New Zealand to get the qualifications. So that really was my next career move - to move from the media into this ‘cultural revival’. Then I Nick Henry and son Harry at Tamanu’s island night after his great-grandfather Albert Royle Henry.” Nick said the family name Henry originated from Reverend Henry Royle: ‘He After a stint at uni in Auckland, Nick returned to Rarotonga to work for the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation in sales and just sailed for two years. I got paid as a captain of one of the vakas by an organisation called Okeanos (Foundation of the Sea).” was in Aitutaki preaching marketing. By1996 Nick was the gospel with the London Missionary Society in the midwith Edgewater Resort’s sister property Club Raro as general …when Aitutaki 1800s. Our ancestor Tetaura Raru sought permission from manager. Soon he left Club Raro to help set up the Bond people are ready the Reverend to "borrow" his name and then placed the name "Henry" on his Son”. Liquor Store. After seven years with Bond, Nick left and created a video to develop more tourism, then that’s The name Henry ended up later in the century being production company, The Digital Factory, with two when it should used as a surname: “So by the time my grandfather was born partners making commercials, documentaries and videos on happen on 1907, he was Christened sporting and cultural events: Albert Royle Henry. My full name is Nicholas Royle Henry!” “I also helped start 88 FM in Rarotonga around that time”. With his video experience In 2010, Okeanos began working with voyaging societies across the Pacific to “Grandpa died when I was Nick became involved with develop and build a fleet of 12 in 1981, so we knew our the Cook Islands Voyaging seven traditionally designed, grandparents well. He insisted Society, through its president, fossil fuel free double masted on having his children and Ian Karika. Vaka Moanas, representing 26 grandchildren around him every week”. “In 2008, I was at Trader Jack's having a drink with island nations. Nick was involved in the Albert Henry spent many Ian and I asked him if I could famous voyage Te Mana O years in New Zealand before go on the vaka and make a Te Moana (The Spirit of the Ocean), which began in April 2011 and launched a renaissance in traditional vaka culture, ocean stewardship and engagement. Over the course of two years, hundreds of sailors navigated from Aotearoa to Hawai’i to the US with a historic arrival at San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge and back, making stops at 15 Pacific nations along the way. After the voyage, Dieter Paulmann of Okeanos gifted four Vaka Moana from the Te Mana O Te Moana fleet to

Island Night dancers performing beachside Tamanu bungalows facing the lagoon

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YES, we do it all. Let my husband and I take you out on one A great day out! of our Personalised Charters.

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CHARTERS

All Charters include, transfers, breakfast or lunch, hot and cold drinks, towels, snorkelling equipment, etc.

1.DEEP SEA FISHING - Fish the FADs and drop offs for Tuna, Wahoo and Mahi Mahi. Other fishing available, jigging, live baiting, bottom fishing and casting for GTs. Experience not required.

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2. PRIVATE LAGOON / SNORKELLING TOURS - Enjoy a day exploring our lagoon without the crowds. More snorkeling than any other operator, including the outer reef. Visit as many islands as time allows and enjoy a BBQ on One Foot Island. Timings are flexible and families welcome. Half days also available. 3. SPEARFISHING - Spearfish your own lunch or dinner, experience not required. Phone Give us a call for details. 31125 home

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ATIU

ATIU, A WORLD APART

Atiu is only 187 kilometres from Rarotonga, yet it is a world apart! With a population of around 400, this rugged island is one of the eco centres of the Cook Islands attracting bird lovers and the more adventurous traveller.

Only a forty-five minute flight from Rarotonga, a two or three-day visit to Atiu opens up a tranquil, charming, an unforgettable no frills Cook Islands’ eco-travel experience. See Jetsave Travel in Avarua or Air Rarotonga at Rarotonga Airport for accommodation and flight options. Here are just a few of the attractions of Atiu.

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Photo captions: 1. Taungaroro Beach. Enjoy your own secluded beach. 2. ‘Land of the birds.’ Take a tour with Birdman George. 3. Anatakitaki Cave. Inhabited by the Atiu swiftlet (aka kopeka). 4. Cook Islands Christian Church.

Visit Atiu’s first church building.

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